The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-08

, why, do you love him 80 much:'
asked Kate.
Il don't know" said Fan. why !
| can't be made to receive him. l
haven't known him much more than a
year, but I do everything he tells me
| to do and think II must be done. and
| old Fan must do II. I've lived now. let
| me see-I was seventeen when ! mar
| ried Nicholas Dunn-if you ever tell
anybody that name I'll kll you! !
haven't let it slip my lips for many a
year. was seventeen when l mar
ried-thirty-seven when my husband
died-that's thirty years ago-how old
must I be-"
"S~ixty-seven," said Kate.
well, I have lived all that time. seen
millions Of people. but I have never
aeen anybody I like to serve so well as
I do Luke Hammond"
"WhyT
Because he always ls up to deviltry,
and I like It." said Fan.
Poor Kate shuddered at the fearful
| grin that distorted old Fans hIdeous
| c~ouptenance.
"She Ii going mad again. ! am afraid
to talk to her any more" unused Kate.
and then closing her eyes as II asleep,
began to wonder why her uncle was 50
cruel, and how long 1t would be be-
fore James Greene would seek for her.
Then she thought Of the VIII and the
| other document she had concealed, and
resolved to die before the secret should
be wrested from her. Much she
| thought Of her sick and tortured father
| also, and she trembled to remember
the cunning. daring and power Of Ham.
mond.
She was, Of course. well acquainted
with the part Of the house she was in.
for she had spent many hours ir her
fathers studio. the crimson chamber.
and knew that between him and her
only four rooms interviewed. No chance
Of escape. though with such dragons
about her. the windows barred, too.
and the shutters nailed up. the doors
locked, and the keys In Fans bosom.
An hour passed on In utter silence.
and then Kate peeped slyly from her
long. silken lnshes.
Old Fan was asleep! But her back
was against the door that led into the
ante-chamber opening into the hall.
The other door Is locked" said
Kate, but I will examine It."
She rose cautiously and did 50. No
hope there! The door was locked and
nailed up.
Rates eyes roved about the room
She was looking for something that
might be used as q weapon. The
chairs were too heavy for her to raise
to strike; she tried their weight.
TOO heavy. ] might fall. and she
would kill me on the spot. What arms
she has," said Kate. glancing at Fans
hard elbows. "She may be sixty-seven
but she has the strength Of sixty-seyen
like me-"
TOO light. Oh. for a club Of iron! !
must ave my father"
In despairing hope she gently re-
placed the pitcher. The slight noise
opened Fans eyes a. II with q spring.
"Ha! up! What do you want" cried
Fan.
"water-nothing else" said Kate. re-
turning to her chair.
Better undress and so to bed"
croaked old Fan. 1.-The time may
come when. like me. you win want a
bed"
A little bell swinging on q wire near
the door DOW tinkled. Fan whined and
got up. placing her ear to q trumpet
shaped Pipe passing through the wall.
and heard these words: Does she
Sleep"
Fan glanced at Kate. Kate appeared
fast asleep in her chair. Fan an
swered:
Eyes. Mr.. Hammond. What time is
It? I'm very sleepy myself"
watch. you old wretch" said Ham.
mond In his library. when. after a
short nap. he bad walked up. Day
light in half On hour and relief"
Relief" whined Fan. crouchlDg at
the door. and leaning her back against
Il. IN have to watch for two hours
yet"
Ten minutes passed and Kate heard
Fan snore. Kate then stole to the
washstand and seized something she
saw standing on the little shelf where
placed.
1t was q small vial labeled "chloro-
FORM" She had seen it when Fan
awoke. and had resolved to use II.
Uncorking 1t with her teeth she stole
near the old woman and held the open
vial under the snoring nose.
In less than a minute old Fan tum.
bled upon her face. senseless.
With eager hands Kate took the key
from Fans bosom. unlocked the door.
pulled Fan aside. and entered the ane-
chamber. having locked her keeper in.
Then out into the hall she crept on
tiptoe.
Now to get ont Of the house." said
brave Kate. "'Tis useless to sesk
my poor father. He has Luke Ham
mond's guards around him. no doubt.
Which way shall l go?"
As she paused the ceep baylng OF
savage dogs fell upon her ear.
Those tigers my uncle turns loose
every night" she thought. III I get
out Of the house I can never get to the
street. What shall ! do? l must try
10 escape. l will raise a window and
Y orr, h..1ng r,rrlort or-o<. g. I-.-