The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-15
By Prot. WIN. Henry Peck.

harder than to make her MIS- Cnaries
Hammond. Surely my son will arrive
this day"
He met Stephen pacing the hall
How is he" asked Luke.
Awake and wants to see you" said
Stephen.
HE is perfectly sensible. then"
Eyes, sir. and would talk with me II
I would answer him." said Stephen.
II will give him o chance to wag his
tongue" said Hammond. with a hard.
cruel smile. as he entered the crimson
chamber.
Good day, Elgin." said Luke. taking
q seat near the bed. ~ am re5oiced to
see your eye so clear. You feel betterT'
VILLAIN! Have you come to renew
your tortures" groaned Henry Elgin.
where Is my child"
"She is in the white-and-gold cham.
Der. Henry Elgin. and there to remain
until she shall become Charles Ham
mond's wife"
"She will die there. then. for she
loves James Greene" said Elgin.
Alas! my poor childv'
"She may forget James Greene II
you command her to marry Charles
Hammond"
Il shall not command her. You know
It well. scoundrel."
Not even to save your life-to regain
health and freedom. Henry Elgin"
mo: not for twenty such lives as
mine would make my daughter miser'
able. My life and liberty! You dare
not give me my liberty; my life you are
stealing from me by slow torture"
ITO save her life. then, will You COM
mand her to wed Charles Hammond?"
Monster! VIII you dare harm that
innocent girl. the child Of your sister,"
"She must become Mrs. Hammond.
I have sworn 1t, plotted It for years."
Luke Hammond" said Elgin, my
purse has often saved you from ruin.
Ny house has been your home FOR
years. All that enjoyed you shared.
Your sister was my wife; my child Is
your niece. Have you NO humanity.
no gratitude"
"None. Henry Elgin." said Luke.
"None. when to show such would be
to ruin myself. I am upon the verge
of bankruptcy. I have NO friend Of
whom can borrow. II I fail 1t will be
proved q fraudulent bankruptcy. ]
have been entrusted with large sums
by various persons. Those sums
have used In speculations. and lost
every dollar. A time for settlement Is
near at hand. You are rich. very rich.
and could have saved me a year ago" =
1.-THE riches you call mine by right be-
long to James Greene" said Elgin.
land you are already largely indebted
to me for money advanced"
TOO late to speak Of that now" said
Hammond. Though all believe you to
be dead. have prevented settlement
Of your affairs. My notes due to you I
have destroyed. Think you will suf.
fer you to 60 free with the power and
will to ruin me? Do what I tell you
make over all your property to your
daughter. as all men now believe you
have already done. Command your
daughter to become the wife Of my
son. and you shall 60 free"
"You wonld not dare trust me free.
You would murder me after having
gained your purpose" said Elgin.
mot II you would pledge me your
solemn word Of honor. Henry Elgin,
to leave me unmolested."
"What II I advance you the money
you need to save your reputation?'
asked Elgin.
"Yon cannot. Henry Elgin." said
Hammond. You are dead to the
world. Make a will dated prior to the
day Of your supposed death. leaving
your property to your child, and she
can advance the money at your com.
mand. You cannot appear again in
New York while am in It."
"You would fly elsewhere with the
money" said Elgin. "You are a de-
faulter. a villain. and would use the
money so gained to pay your debts.
Nor shall defraud James Greene any
longer of his rights. I have been bad
man. and now am suffering my just
punishment. Years ago the father. Of
James Greene. when dying. made me
the guardian Of his infant son. who
now loves my daughter. was false to
the trust. Young Greene had no rela-
dives. and I easily gained undisputed
possession Of the property. Then mp.
prenticed the boy to learn the carpen.
ter's trade. During the last three years
Of my life among men I repented Of my
villainy. For the sake Of ny child ]
dared not reveal my crime. but I
took a course which would have right
ed James Greene and left her with IN
unstained name. had you not inter.
fered. do not think you dare to muir.
der me. or you would have done SO the
instant you discovered my will"
Hammond muttered:
And would. by my blood! but
thought you We're dyiag-and I would
now. had I the will"
He dared not tell Henry Elgin tina,
the will was lost. lest the knowledge
sh"nld cause him to grow strong in re-
sistance.
"You are right. Elgin," said he. n,
length. 1T Is needles TO disguise the
matter. The principal part Of your
property Is In real estate. wish II
sold. and the money 20 be placed In my
hands. Once In my hands I will leave
America. and you shall be restored te
| life and liberty. Money | need-money