The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-29
CHAPTER XXI.
Continued.

room. CLIFFORD heard them as they
moved about-heard the noise of the
piled-up furniture being displaced.
And then, "a moment later, one Of the
policeman ran up the stairs and
passed Clifford as the latter hastily
came down
As he reached the foot Of the stair
case Clifford, whom the man had sa-
luted in silence, heard a sharp rap at
the door of the closed room. Then the
policeman who was upstairs called
quickly to- his companion downstairs:
"Bill, 60 outside and wait under the
window. This side of the house
quickr'
The police sergeant dashed out by
the front door without a seconds de-
lay, while the man who had given the
direction burst open the bedroom door
with a couple of blows Of his trunch-
con. Clifford, in perplexity and alarm,
rushed out after the sergeant. He ar
rived nearly as soon as the man he
was following, whom he found CROP
ing among the evergreen bushes
which grew thickly under the wall of
the old house.
A succession of feeble means, as Of
weak creature in great agony, broke
upon his ear as he turned the corner of
the house.
And at the same moment he saw the
constable who had burst open the bed
room door leaning out of the window
of Miss Theodora's room.
"What? She has not fallen-thrown
! herself" stammered Clifford.
But even as he spoke the sergeant
parted the bushes with his arms, and
turning the full light Of the lantern he
carried upon the ground beneath them
showed the little figure Of poor Miss
Theodore lying in shareless heap.
''Oh, don't! Don't touch me" she
whispered family, as she felt the
strong light thrown on her face.
"Dop't touch me! My leg is broken
and something here"
Her right hand moved feebly up to
her chest, and then her head fell back.
"She's tainted" said Clifford. Poor
little woman! What shall we do?
Shall fetch doctor?'
"No, sir; leave that to me to do that"
replied the police sergeant, promptly.
"You stay here while send for help.
There's some one close by will so for
me-"
He went away quickly, leaving his
lantern. Clifford looked down at the
little withered face, and he fancied he
detected c flicker Of the eyelids. AS
he bent his head to look closer, he was
surprised by her faint whisper in his
ear. =.
81 am glad, so glad" she murmured,
still +Rithout opening her eyes. "that
this has happened. For now they can
not make me give evidence against
poor Nell"
my dear lady," said Clifford, in the
same voice, pray don't trouble your
head about that now. Nell will be all
right. T am sure Of it."
The policeman IN the room above,
hearing the voices, looked out.
"Has she come to-" he asked.
"Ye-es," answered Clifford, doubt
FULLY.
For again she lay with immovable
lips. But as he spoke an expression
Of intense agony came over the
pinched, thin feature, and he saw that
with the return Of full consciousness
had come also the full sensitiveness
to pain.
"Go down and ask the Colonel for
some brandy" called out Clifford.
But the constable did not seem to
hear. He still stood at the window,
looking down.
Clifford repeated his words, and the
man, with evident reluctance, moved
from the window. Miss Bostal glanced
up and turned her head with quick,
bird-like motion to Clifford.
"Are any of the policemen still
about?'' she asked, rapidly.
Clifford was about to answer in the
negative when the constable whom he
had sent for the brandy having deliv-
cred his message with astonishing Gel
erity, appeared at the corner Of the
house.
"Here he comes with the brandy
said Clifford.
But Miss BostaPs expression of pain
gave place at once to one of disgust.
Brandy she exclaimed. II would
not touch it on any account. I have
q been teetotaller all my life"
Her sudden burst of energy rather
disconnected Clifford, who was much
relieved when he saw that the Colonel
was close behind the constable. The
,.,nA man came very slowly to the place
whefc~ his daughter lay, and peered
over the bushes at her.
"Theodora! Are you hurt? Really
hurt" he asked, in dull tone. as il
still too much overwhelmed by threat
ening misfortune to be greatly troubled
about anything else.
'Hurtr she exclaimed, pettishly.
"Of course am hurt. overbalanced
myself while leaning out of the Will
dow, and fell out, and have broken
my leg and one of my ribs, too,
think"
''Shall we take you indoors?'
"No. Oh, nov with energy. "You
would hurt me too much. Leave me
here I'll the doctor comes"
The Colonel turned, and SO did Cliff
ford and the constable. For they all
heard sounds as Of an alteration in
two mems voices. and they presently
carght sight Of two men, the one ap-
Darently struggling to get away from