The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-17


He must have inherited all his good
ness from his mother-not from you.
I gave him your letter, and from his
surprise saw at once that you were
much mistaken in him"
"How! Whatw
Eyes, your son is a clear-heart.
mean, he has never done anything to
be ashamed Of. We have. First, l
told him we must leave the bark. l
spoke with, the captain, and as Charles
was a privileged character on board,
he was allowed to 60 with me in my
boat. At II o'clock we landed near
the Battery, and whom should 1 see
disguised as an old applewoman but
our dangerous friend, Harriet Foss."
"And why-what-"
"Wait! you are stammering," con-
tinued Marks. II saw her, and knew
her at sight. But she did not know me.
was disguised as sailor, for was
wide awake. You see she must have
had spies out last night; and they, l
think, told her that during the storm
boat had put off for the bark Cleaner.
So she was on the watch"
"On the watch for whom-for what"
asked Hammond.
| "For you, Luke Hammond. No doubt
| she imagined that loving father
| would hasten to meet his son. Or,
maybe, she thought you had suspected
her presence in New York, or met me,
and would 60 to warn Charles. Any
way, she was near the boat when 1t
landed, and came right down as II
eager to sell apples. saw that she rec
ognized Charles and failed to know
me. Evidently she sought for some one
who was not in the boat. Stephen Sc
cured q hack and we made for the next
clothing store, where we changed our
garments wholly. We left the store
from the rear, where another carriage
took US up"
"And why the precaution?" asked
Luke.
Because the apple woman, that Is,
Harriet Foss. had hired hack, and l
saw her following u.s." said Marks.
"For a small sum the storekeeper pro-
cured wigs and false boards for u.s.
Il had much trouble in persuading
Charles to follow my advice; and only
| by telling him that his fathers fortune
and life were in danger could l have
succeeded. We reached the Metropol-
itan Hotel, and took rooms under as
sumed names Stephen acted as our
servant, but unfortunately servant
of the hotel recognized him and greeted
him with: 'Ha, Stephen! is that you?
Are you with Mr.. Luke Hammond no
more? When did you leave him" and
forty other questions the rascal ratified
out, while Stephen was near us. That
instant saw porter prick up his ears
and look sharply at US. kept my eyes
on him and soon saw him slip away,
after speaking privately with one OF
his fellows. Then I knew We were
watched. That Harriet Foss is a reg
ular female Vidocq! I was afraid to
leave the hotel during daylight lest we
might be tracked. So at night we.f first
went to the thea ire, where hoped
to find a chance to slip off. But I am
sure two men kept their eyes on u.s."
"Was Stephen with you?" asked
Luke.
"Yes;. was afraid to let him stay.
He has a weakness-he drinks when
ever he can get q chance. Suppose
Harriet Foss had got hold of my friend
Stephen in his cupsw said Marks, with
whistle. "After the theatre we re-
turned to the hotel-and by my life!
tic men I feared were there as socn
as we were! Harriet Foss has as many
spies as a despot. Just before mid
night-about half-past live pretend
ed to retire, locked our doors and ex-
tinguished our lights. I saw nothing
suspicious in the hall when 1 looked
from my room, except a sleepy cham
bermaid doing near q window. But
that was enough for me. We made our
exit by rear door into another room,
fortunately unoccupied. Out Of that
passed into another by swinging on the
shutters outside, like thieves or
burglars. 1t put me in mind of old
timest Stephen and were old hands
at such tricks, and as Charles was just
from before the mast he was as active
as cat. Well. we got away by the
rear Of the hotel and reached here. 1
think, unmatched. Now what are you
going to dor
"You must earn your son, John
Marks" said Luke.
THAT is. put an end 10 Harriet Foss.'
said Marks. "I'll think about that
But what was your plan to deceive
her."
ITO get some one to personate me"
said Hammond; ito let Charles return
to the hotel as secretly as possible, and
tomorrow suffer him to introduce Har
riet Foss to the pretended Luke Ham
mond as his father. She will Eot find
her sisters husband, be deceived, and
seek for her vengeance elsewhere"
Marks shook his head, and said:
'You cannot deceive her. She has
been told that, if you are not the man
she seeks, you resemble him very
much. She will seek for that resem-
| blance, and not finding it in the fic-
titious father Of Charles, will instantly
suspect some trick. Besides, Charles
will not consent to the deceit"
II will command him! will tell him
he must to save his father from total