The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-05
CHAPTER XXEII.
Continued.

Il know such a man. replied ham,
mond.
Then may heaven help me-" said
Kate, bitterly.
Heaven will not; and so leave you
for a time" said Luke, as he left his
prisoner and locked the door after him.
He found Nancy pacing the hall.
Has Stephen returned:" be asked.
81 thought heard his voice"
He was here a moment ago. said
Nancy, land told me these letters were
for you"
Hammond took the letters she held
from her hand.
"Duns! nothing but duns" said he.
81 do not wish to see Henry Elgin un-
til thc cast moment. Rouse Daniel and
nut him on guard. Let Stephen sleep
until night. 1 will so read these let
ters.'
But the body-our mothers body"
1--WE will attend to that tomorrow.
You had better lie down when Daniel
comes. Or first let Stephen bring me
some refreshment to my library-I feel
faint. 'Tis great pity our cook has
left US just at this time. I must have
some sleep, also. I shall be awake all
night"
So saying he departed, while Nancy
followed him to fulfill his orders.
Leaving them for time, let US en-
ter the crimson chamber.
Since we were there James Greene
had worked steadily. Once be had de-
scended to hold q short conversation
with Henry Elgin, and to receive food
and drink. Then he had returned to
his labor.
At first his progress was fearfully
slow, for the ironwork was deeply i'm
bedded in the masonry, and be was
nearly two hours in removing that
great obstacle. Next he encountered a
bend in the flue, and to pass it cost
him two hours more. 1t was o'clock
in the afternoon when he reached a
place where, by looking up, he could
see the clear blue sky.
Thank God for that sight" said
Greene, as he gaEed upon the little
patch of heaven that was visible. Il
have still ten feet to ascend"
1t was very hard work, and he pro-
gressed at the rate of little more than
one foot an hour. But he was pro-
crossing, and he felt that in time he
would be free.
Elgin, lying on his bed in the Grim.
son chamber, was hopeful and vigilant
and whenever he paused in his listen
ing it was to pray. To him the noise
of the bricks as they fell seemed like
thunder rattling down the chimney,
and every moment he thought he
heard the rush of feet about the house
in search of the cause of the disturb
ance
. Kate, in her prison, often imagined
she heard the crash of falling bricks,
and so she did, but it was from the de-
molishing of an old building not far off.
1t was nearly dark when Greene
reached place in the flue which ena-
bled him to breathe Of the fresh air.
II am now above the level Of the
roof" said he, "or soon shall be.
must be more careful than ever, or
may topple down the chimney top and
create such an alarm rs to result in
my capture or destruction. The CHM
ney above the roof may fall on me and
crush me, or in falling may carry me
with it. am. in fact, in greater dan
since escaped from the well. And af-
fer I shall have gained the roof may
End it too far from the next house to
leap without breaking my limbs, or
gwen my neck"'
He resumed his work, and rs he did
10 his wedge slipped from his hand,
and he heard it Gathering far below
him.
He was forced to descend and search
For it More than an hour slipped by
before he could find it among the
bricks below. 1t was impossible for
him then to hold any conversation
with Elgin. for the loose bricks had
I.hoked UP the f1ue, and James Greene
bound of Elgins warning cry to pause
might not penetrate the mass Of rub
Dish his work had heaped up below
Aim.
He paused in terror lest Hammond
might enter the crimson chamber and
detect his presence in the chimney.
IF he should" said Greene shud-
Iiering. che will kindle fire in the
crate and suffocate me! TO escape in
time to save Kate and her father
must work. But if work may only
hasten their rum"
He looked up. Immediately above
the opening of the chimney. in the
deep, dark bosom Of the sky, shone 4
brilliant star. 1t was the star he and
Kate Elgin had often admired, and in
their courtship fondly named 1.-The low,
er's star"
1T is good omen," said Greene, full
Of newly kindled hope. II will work
and trust in heaven"
He tolled on Hours passed. and his
head and shoulders were above the
chimney when he felt it tremble un-
der his weight as he struggled to rise
higher.
There is but one way" said he If
.iattempt to climb out the chimney will
certainly fall with me. and l shall be
KILLED | must take off the bricks from
the top and drop them back into the