Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-01
By Prot. VIM. Henry Peck,
s7%%7G263(2E1&1G10A1A6&
Copyright 1895,
by ROBERT DoNNEB's Sons.
{AH rights reserved.)

| Luke Hammond?" said Fan, rolling
her bloodsho: eyes fearfully.
II command you to tell her"
"I will" said Fan. 'It will do me-
good"
mo names, Fam
ooh, no-names are dangerous, or
sacred things replied Fan, Il will
tell you, young lady. An old and
wicked woman-not SO old by thou
sand years as she was wicked, Miss
led young and handsome mani
wonder If he ever robbed his par
! Gnts-'
go on! and no wonder about it,!
thundered Hammond. while Nancy
grew pale and dizzy.
"Yes," said Fan, "the old and wicked
woman led the young and handsome
| man into an old store-room-dark chill
| ly place-my flesh creeps to think of it.
, And the old woman knew there was
| man, q desperate man, watching her
to shoot her IL she paused. Then the
old woman left him in the store-room,
left the young man-left him stand
| Ing on a trap-door, right over deep,
, dark pit. Augh so deep and dark
She shuddered, and Kate Elgin's face
grew terrible in its CHASTITY attention.
kate's- eyes were fixed upon Fans liyid
face, but her body was slowly lean
| ing more and more towards Hammond,
who expected to see her swoon anu
fall every instant
Fan continued:
1.-THE old woman left the young man
| there and fled. Suddenly it grew as
light as day, and looking back, the
old woman saw the desperate man she
knew had followed IN the dark. lie
had pistol in one hand, Il rope in the
! other. He said something-the old
woman did not know-She was all fear
he pulled the rope, the trap-door fell
the young man vanshed-he is in the
we'll now"
/ His name-his namew gasped Kate,
her eyes wide open, her lips all white
"Was James Greene!' said Ham
mond, opening his arms to receive'her
If she should swoon,
Like Il ugress from her lair, like an
arrow from a bow-strins, Kate Elgin
darted in between Hamm ond's arms
and shrieking:
Die, assassin! die, Satan! if death Is
in your and plunged the secretcd
knife twice into his breast with all her
strength.
Hammond staggered back, clear tc
then wall, and his own dagger was in
his hand In an instant.
! Kate Elgin glanced at the knife in
her hand. The miserable blade, mere
table-knife, blunt ard weak, was bent
as if of lead, and save Hammond's
sudden fright and surprise, he was un-
hurt.
20, Heaven groancd Kate, dashing
the useless, faithless knife away. docs
thy justice, thy mercy sleep! Oh,
James. James, my lover, my darling.
James. dead! murdered.'
She clasped her hands in agony. and
fell lifeless into Nancy Harker's arms.
place her on the bed said Luke.
"She has fainted-nothing more. Fan.
there's n gold dollar for your story.
You told It we'll. Nancy. when she
shall have recovered, use your influence
to bend her to my will We have no
time to lose. My purpose accom-
plshed, we will fly to South America.
This news of James Greene will weak
en- her greatly She would not have
believed 1t true if l had told it; but
as old Fan related it, Kate Elgin can
not doubt. If you want anything, let
Fan get it. l am going to the crimson
chamber"
He departed, exulting in his villainy
and old Fan muttered, as she secured
the coin he had tossed:
"A brave man! A dreadful man
My son must have grown up just like
him! Luke Hammond and Nancy
Harker! Two gay imps-Gay imps-
they ought to be brother and sister
yes, and begun by robbing their par
ents. But | feel Detter-better now
after that easing Of my mind"
Unfortunate Kate recovered soon
and found some sad relief in tor
rent of tears, tempest Of sobs, 6
whirlwind of woe.
And then. weeping, she fell asleep
with Nancy Harker glaring hate ant
triumph by the bedside.
Old Fan, not wanted there, crept
away to hide her yellow birdie" an(
silence reigned in the white and golG
chamber at midnight.