The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-01
.nY5 TERI. oF.THE
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robert Bonner's sons.l
I was hardly sufficient protection against
the falling snow.
"You had better get into the car
riage, Miss Theodore" suggested Nell,
coldly, ignoring the lady's question.
But I want an answer first, my
dear. Never mind the snow. l only
shiver because I am not used to the
night air. You know I never so out
after sundown, and not often before"
But Nell would give her no answer
And Miss Theodore, when she was at
last constrained to get into the car
riage then, regretted to Mrs. Lans-
downe that London had spoiled her
dear little girl.
1t was now past closing time at the
inn, and George Claris, with great diff
ticulty, was clearing his house of it's
crowd of customers. Those three OF
the sailors who had suffered most
from cold and exposure were to spend
the night under his roof, while the
rest were taken to Stroan by new
found friends who offered them hospi-
tality. George Claris locked up his
house, having already sent his niece
and Meg to bed; and, thoroughly tried
out, went up to his own room.
He had had very hard day, and he
had finished up with an extra glass Of
rum and water. The consequence was
that he fell off to sleep as soon as he
sat down on the edge of his bed to
take his boots off, and did not wake
up until some hours later, when he sat
up suddenly, and remembered, at the
moment of waking, that he had for
gotten to take the money, both his
own takings, and the collection for
the sailors, out Of the till in the bar.
Opening the door of his room softly,
in order not to disturb the sleepers, he
went down stairs.
1t was half past five on the follow
ing morning when the nearest neigh
bors were startled by loud knocking
at their door, followed by the abrupt
inrush Of Meg, the inn servant, in q
state of frantic excitement.
"Oh, come, some Of ye; do come!
There's been awful doings in our
housew she cried, scarcely articulate
between her fright and want Of
breath. "There's somebody hiding in
the bar, and can't get him out; and
Mr.. Claris is nowhere to be found;
and Miss Nell's tainted when told
her; and, oh, dear, do Gomez
The woman whom she was address
ing was at first too much alarmed to
come; but two men, who were not far
off, hearing the commotion, offered to
60 back with Meg, and in a few min
utes the whole party were at the inn.
There was somebody behind the bar,
certainly-someDody down on the
floor. The men stood hesitating at the
door. The sounds which came to their
ears from behind the bar were more
like the gruntings and growlings Of a
beast than the voice Of q man.
Its not a man you've got there.
It's an animal" said one Of the men.
iAuO lAC pilShAOih AS
was carrying, he made dash into the
building.
But as he entered, a wild figure
sprang up from behind the bar and
faced the intruder, glaring and rag
ing. 1t seized one of the earthenware
jugs which stood on shelf against
the wall, and brandishing it above
his head, gave forth an unearthly
howl.
"Who is it? What is it?" screamed
Meg.
STAND back! stand backw roared the
creature, stamping and whirling its
arms about. "Stand back! 1 won't be
robbed! III serve you as I've served
it-as I've served the devil! the devil!
the devil"
And with more stamping, more
shouting, the creature hurled the jug,
aiming at the head of the intruder.
1t was dashed into thousand pieces
against the door, which shook and rat
tied under the !blow.
"Why, it's-it's George Claris him
self" faltered the second man, who
kept outside, too much alarmed to
go beyond the door.
"Master?" cried Meg, Indignantly.
why, he don't drink! He's as sober
a man as there is in the placer
She was sobbing. and trembling, and
clinging to the man.
He amt drunk" replied the man
shortly. Hes gone mad, my girl.
Look at his eyes"
And as the girl looked fearfully
through the window at her unhappy
master, she could not doubt the truth
of the mans words.
At eleven o'clock on the previous
night George Claris had been as sane
as any in the country. At six o'clock
in the morning he was a raving mad
man.
CHAPTER XIX.