The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-12
CHAPTER XIII.
Continued.

Continued.
"I'll 60 and sit with him, if he'll
have me-" said Clifford, who was re-
morseful, knowing that he had had
suspicious Of the father, and not Of the
daughter.
do, Sir" said the sergeant, who
wanted q watch kept upon Miss Bos-
tabs father, and was quite willing that
1t should be friendly one.
So Clifford, not without dimdence,
entered the house as the sergeant car
ried his bundle to the gig which was
waiting for him at the old turnpike.
The Colonel heard the slow footsteps
outside tine dining-room door and
called out:
"Who's that|
Clifford stood in the doorway.
''It's I, Colonel. May I come in?"
The cid man raised his head quickly,
and gave rim little wan smile, as he
held out his hand.
"Come in, come in; yes"
Then, having held the young mans
warm hand in his own cold one for a
few moments, he let it fall, and, in
viting him, with gesture, to be seat
ed, relapsed into silence. Clifford
asked him is he should make up the
fire. It was a cold evening, and the
draughts had been allowed to sweep
through the house from open window
to open door.
1o1 xIyar uo11rcplf If
you can. 1t would take more fire than
there is on earth to warm my old
bones tonight"
The stern sadness of his tone sent
shiver through Clifford, who, indeed,
had little comfort to give him. He had
some difficulty in getting the fire to
hurn up, and when at last he succeed
ed he found that the coal-Scuttle was
empty.
II will fetch you some COAL" said
the Colonel, who was proceeding to
rise from his chair, when Clifford
stopped him.
"No. Tell me where to get it," said
he, quickly, snatching up the scuttle.
ooh, we'll, if you will, you will find
the lid of the water-butt on the ground
outside. at the back. If you lift it
but really I don't like to trouble you
yon. :WiR find the entrance to the eel
lar underneath.p
Following this rather curious direc-
ton Clifford went out SS-the back
door of the house, lifted the liz,
miring the ingenuity by which the
cellar was concealed, and began to de-
scend the wooden steps into the dark
ness below. The Colonel had provided
him with a candle, but this was sud-
denly extinguished as he reached the
bottom step, and at the same moment
he became aware that he was not
alone.
Involuntarily he uttered little cry.
A hand, the little, soft and slender
hand which he remembered so vividly,
but which he had never before identi-
fed, was placed quickly on his mouth.
"Hello" they heard rough mans
voice cry, muftied as it came down into
the earth from the garden above.
And Clifford heard soft whisper in
his own ear:
"The policeman! Send him away on
some pretext. I only want moment,
just one moment"
The young man shuddered. Although
he had no fear that Miss Bostal would
do him any harm, there was something
uncanny about the idea Of being left
alone with q murderess, deep down in
the bowels of the earth, in the grasp of
the little hands that had done such
deadly work
The policeman's voice startled them
both. He flashed his lantern down
into the cellar, but already Miss Bos
tai had released Clifford and hidden
herself in the corner behind the steps.
Hello! Who's that down there? Is
1T you, Mr.. King?"
YES" said Clifford. "I'm getting
some coal. Would you ask the Colonel
for a scoop, or shovel, or something
to get it up by?"
The man flashed his lantern round
the cellar once more, and answered:
"Well, sir, can't so in. But I'll call
him."
He drew back, and the moment he
did so, Miss Bostal, with amazing bold
ness and celerity, crept up the steps
and out behind his back, as he called
to Colonel Bostal from the back door
way.
Clifford stood still, with his heart in
his mouth. He was intensely excited;
he was listening with all his power.
But he did not know whether he want
ed the woman to escape or whether he
wanted her to pay the penalty she so
we'll deserved. All he knew was that
the few moments of suspense seemed
never-ending. Then the voice Of the
policeman, measured and calm, was
heard again:
All right, sir. He's coming"
She had got away, then! After all.
1t was no more than was to be expect
ed of her superhuman cunning. And
in spite of himself, he felt An immense
relief that he had helped her to es-
cape. He could meet, if not the po
liceman, IT least, the Colonel, with a
lighter heart. He took the shovel
which was handed to him, and reap
peared in the dininG-room with the
coal.
The Colonel looked at him kecnly
and shut the door.
did you see-her?' he asked in a
y low voice.
Eyes. She got away" answered