The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-18

Poor, darling Kate-my unfortunate
childr' sobbed Elgin.
The cruel villain drew forth his
handkerchief and wiped away the in.
valid's tears, for they seemed to run
from Henry Elgin's eyes to Luke Ham.
mond's heart. and then to turn to red
hot Goals Of Ere.
go on, monneous fend! said Elgin.
indignant anu writhing under the
touch.
Hammond returned his handkerchief
to his pocket, and continued:
"Your doctor-the family doctor
was not summoned. I summoned q
physician-a man Of high medical repu'
tation, but much addicted to wine.
Before he saw You I piled him with
drink. He was intoxicated when he
examined you. His certificate OF death
pronounced your end BY spasm OF the
heart"
"vinain! You told me my child had
given out the report that I was mad
that I was necessarily confined as .
dangerous lunatic In my own house.
that she would consent to my freedom
when l should have secured the prop
erty to her. And I-great God. pardon
me for the injustice, I thought
feared that II I did. she. instigated by
you, Luke Hammond. might-No! l
never thought Catharine Elgin would
consent to her fathers death! Only In
half delirium did I believe she knew
Of my situation"
Hammond arose and paced the room
to and fro to calm himself. for the
sight Of Elgin's anguish. though not a
new thing to him. was narrowing even
to his hardened heart.
He soon resumed his seat. and pur-
sued:
well, you were cosined. and in your
coffin were seen by every servant IN
the house. by your daughter-she hur-
ried away, unable to bear the grin OF
agony axed upon your features"
"Wretch" cried Elgin. You take
a iendish delight in dwelling upon
her grief"
MANY Of your friends saw you
through the glass lid Of your comm"
continued Hammond. II stood near. as
the throng Of sorrowing friends passed
around 1t one by one. and ! confess
that I trembled lest the drugs l ad'
ministered might revive You too soon.
or fail altogether. II you had revived.
your first act would have been to de-
clare the existence Of a will. for which
I had searched in vain. Had you died.
I feared the will might be found by
other hands and eyes than mine. FL
nally, the room In which you lay was
cleared. that I and my assistants. Dan
lei and Stephen, might prepare the
coffin for removal to the tomb. Then
YOU were lifted from the coffin and
swiftly and secretly removed to the
white and gold apartment. prepared
for your reception. The coffin was
filed with sacks Of sand, and en-
tombed In your family vault In Green
wood Cemetery. I assure you, your
funeral procession was very large and
numerously attended"
Horrible villain" exclaimed Elgin.
Hammond nodded sneeringly. and
went on:
unfortunately for my plans. you
recovered your consciousness and hear
ing before I suspected 1t. and overheard
me telling Mrs. Harker. whom / had
lust introduced into the house. to
search everything for the missing VIII.
and bring it to me that / might de-
stroy it."
II remember" said Elgin, "and your
words put me on my guard. confused
as / was; and when I opened my
eyes, your first words were: You spoke
Of a will, Elgin; tell III where we may
end It, for you are dying / called you
traitor, and thenceforward you have
known that / knew too much for the
success Of your villainy. Have you
forged a will yet?"
mo-" said Hammond. IAN my
search after your will was In vain.
I dared not forge q while that re-
manned q hidden mine beneath me.
that might explode at any instant. !
was ignorant Of the date Of your will
I feared you might have executed 1t on
the very day you were thought to die.
Three Of your servants-I have dis
charged them long ago-told me you
had called them into your studio-this
apartment-that very day. and signing
your name to a document which you
affirmed to be your will. caused them
to afix their names as witnesses. I
dared not forge o WILL"
II drew up the will myself" said FL.
gin. THANK heaven you did not find
IL"
II found It this morning"
"Ah! The powers Of darkness you
serve aid you," groaned Elgin.
You talk too much" said Luke.
placing bis finger on Elgin's wrist
You are already quite exhausted"
To be continued.
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