The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-01
By Prof. VIM. Henry Peck,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Author Of the Tie Stone. Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.

a deep whisper. "a man Luke Ham
mond deems dead; man he tried to
kill. am James Greene!'
| For a moment Elgin was speeches.
with JOY and surprise, and while ne
utters his silent thanks to Heaven Tor
its mercy, let us see how James Greene
reached the spot where he was to be
more surprised than Henry Elgin, and
to be as fully rejoiced. We left him at
midnight beginning his work against
the walled-up fireplace in the old stone
kitchen, far below the crimson cham
Der.
He was not long in forcing an en-
trance into the old chimney, and was
glad to find it so large and rugged that
he could mount upward several feet
Then he found another impediment in
thick bars Of iron laid closely to-
gether, and sustaining several layers
of brick. After great labor, he loosened
the ends Of four Of the bars from the
bricks, and getting full possession Of
one bar, used it as "crow" to pry
aside the others. He then dislodged
the bricks, and forcing his body
through the aperture SO made, found
that he had entered another chimney.
"I must go on up" said he. "I must
reach the roof, and then Chamber along
until I can drop from the caves where
they oyerhang the old and untenanted
house adjacent to this. A leap Of ten
feet will take me to the roof OF the
untenanted house, and then my escape
thence will be easy"
he looked upward, but all was dark.
81 might now cut from here into a
| room" said he, "but into whose
room? Perhaps into Luke Hammond's
kitchen. I know nothing Of this house.
am so turned around that do not
know whether I am in the main
house or in the wing. I must 60 up,
and in going up make as little noise as
possible"
Again he began to ascend. For a
few feet all was easy work. Then an
iron bar opposed his passage. This he
removed by beating to pieces the
bricks in which it was imbedded. Up
again q few feet, and he found the
| flue so narrow that it was impossible
to ascend without removing layer OF
bricks all around the fue.
A new fear arose in his mind.
"The continual dropping Of the bricks
as remove them may cause an
ALARM" thought he. "Still it must be
done. I see no help for it. God has
been with me so far. will trust in
Him for all"
he again labored, and the bricks fell
one after another, and, to his ear,
with a stunning noise.
Somebody did hear them as they
struck far down below. Old Fan,
trembling in her bed, heard them; but
she deemed the noise made by spirits
or by anything rather than mortal
hands. She crept out Of her bed into
the kitchen, and crouching before the
smouldering fire, trembled and stopped
her ears.
Greene continued his slow and toll
some ascent until checked by the iron
work Henry Elgin had thought of as
he listened to the mysterious noises In
the chimney.
Whenever Greene paused in his toll,
| he listened for alarm. But there was
no alarm until he heard Elgin's voice.
Then he trembled indeed; for he did
not recognize the voice, smothered as it
was in the Aue; and, as we have seen.
Elgin was forced to speak three times
before Greene replied. His astonish-
ment on learning that Henry Elgin
was still alive was beyond expression.
Greene had been among those who
had seen Elgin in his coffin. James
Greene had shed tears when The coffin
was consigned to the tomb.
When Elgin was again able to speak,
he said:
James Greene, we have not time
for many words. My jailer', or Ham
mond himself, may enter this room at
any moment. God be with you, my
son, and may you escape. You are
now opposed by a strong iron frame,
placed in the main chimney to sustain
the weight Of this fue. If you can
overcome that obstacle, you will find
much difficulty in going up, as the tue
narrows and takes a turn some feet
farther up. Would to Heaven could
aid you"
II am nearly famished," said Greene.
"Haye you food and drink near you:"
II have" said Elgin. But how can
you reach it,"
Thrust your hand up the fue as far
as you can," said Greene.
Elgin did So and his hand was
grasped by that Of the brave young
carpenter.
MAY we soon be able to grasp each
others hand face to face" said Greene.
pressing Elgin's thin and skeleton
hand.
"God grant that we may, my son.
said Elgin. "And now loose my hand,
and l will give you food and drink"
When his hand was free, Elgin took
meat and bread from the small table
near him, and passed it up the fue.
"Water-I must have water" said
! Greene.
There was q half emptied bottle upon
the table. This Elgin filed with water
from pitcher, and passed up the fue.
Hunger and thirst till now I never
knew" thought Greene, as he ate and
| drank