The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-22
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.


Foss. And am l not bewaring of that
woman? John Marks will remove hel
to win his SOD. And sucI a son!
dreamed that idiot was my son, and
that he called me Father! Father!
until my brain reeled with the shrill
ness of his cries. But, worst of all,
dreamed of James Greene-of james
Greene and my two dead wives.
thought / saw him holding them by the
hand, and climbing up out of the ole
climbing, climbing, until they al
got in here, and then the floor opened
under me, and I fell, wbirling doW1
q thousand years, amid imps, idiots
and dead men, until stopped, mangle6
to a pulp, in lake of burning brandy
Horrible. l awoke, and the sun was
shining in my face with CLEAN tha
blinded me. Then ! dreamed that
sought for the lost will, and not finding
it. fired the house, and saw everybody
In it escape except myself, who was
grasped by James Greene, and held in
the we'll until it was red hot and / a
cinder."
He rambled on of his dreams,
trembling and nervous, until Stephen
sneaked into the library.
Stephen" said Hammond, "take
these letters to the postofice. Then
cali at my Office in Wall street fol
letters, and say that am out Of town
There's an order for you to get the
letters. Then 60 to No. - Mott street
Ask for Mr.. Thomas Allday. Tell him
his note is due, and that be will be
wanted some time tonight. Tell him
he shall have his note and its value
in cash besides if he is found not want
ing. Then hurry home"
Stephen took the letters and de.
parted. After bathing, as was bis
custom, Hammond breakfasted,. and
was returning to his library, when old
Fan sprang up in his path and said;
"Mr. Hammond, want to so away"
go where? You are better off here
than you can hope to be elsewhere.
said Hammond, eying her suspiciously
II want to go away" said :he OLD
creature, sitting down on the steps, and
rocking herself backward and forward
II want to 60 away from this dread
full house, Luke Hammond. My yellow
brides aren't safe here"
Come, this is all nonsense" saiC
Luke, angrily. Get up; get out Of my
way. wish to pass up to the library.
mot until you can tell me can &C
can 60, Luke Hammond" said Fan
"You must tell me you won't set the
dogs on me, and let me CO."
Luke looked at her sharply.
What do you wish to so after"
said he
AFTER! Nobody" said Fan.
"You lie, you old hag. You wish tc
betray me. Go to your kitchen; and
remember, my eye is on you always
"Yes, yes-so is his-so is his!' said
Fan, hiding her face in her apron.
His? Whose:" demanded Luke.
James Greene's - yes! James
Greene's," said Fan. His eye is al
ways on Neon me! just as he looked
when the floor sank under him and he
went down-down; but he'comes up
he comes up! and he creeps.and crawls
all over the house, looking at me- al
me! and for you-for your
"Old woman. I must tie you up
thought Hammond, as she rose an6
crept slowly away. You are growing
very dangerous"
He entered his library, and pulled
q bell cord, then called out quick ant
sharp, like snap:
"Come up! Quick"
Then, pacing around the table will
uneasy steps, he muttered:
''The old woman Crews dangerous
We must act, and immediately"
When Nancy entered be said:
"Well, 1t has reached that point"
"What point. Luke:'
'That point at which necessity de
mands that Fan shall be secured,
said he.
"Does she suspect?" asked Nancy.
II care not whether she suspects OF
not" said Luke, savagely. Il seem
danger in the air. Nancy Harker
While 1 slept this morning my dream!
were horrible-terrific. shudder nov
in remembering them"
Nancy smiled.
"Oh, you may grin" said Luke. "Bu
I tell you that dreams have frightened
me for the first time in my life Of fifty
years. And now, at this instant, {
sense of rapidly nearing peril so rack!
my brain, my nerves, my whole being
that the very air smells of imminen
danger"
Hammond drew his tall. lean figure
rigidly erect, and tossing back his long
narrow head. until his cruel face wa!
turned upward, dilated his eyes ant
nostrils, and repeated, sweeping hi
hands in wild circle:
II scent danger in the air."
On the stairs, not five feet from tn
open door of the little library, old Fal
was peeping through the banisters, he
keen. witch-like eyes on a level witt
the floor. But she could not see Ham
mond nor Nancy. and was as unper
ceived by them.
She had crept there to listen, for il
her distorted brain began to burn 1
suspicion that Luke Hammond hat
lied when he told her that ROLAND
Dunn. her son, was hanged, and tina
Luke Hammond knnM where that COL