The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-25
By Prot. WIN. Henry Peck.
Copyright 1896.
by RopIsf BoxxEx's SoHI
(Lu rtoAcs resssusd>



You may be bad. and you be-"
muttered old Fan, as she departed.
but q better paymaster never lived"
THE sight Of that old wretch" said
Hammond. when alone. always chills
my blood"
He glanced towards the decanter Of
brandy, which be had left upon the
table.
mo, III drink no more tonight"
said he, turning away. THE habit will
be my ruin II l do not crush It. / am
beginning to drink brandy like water"
He opened q drawer Of his desk. and
searched for some pa~pers-that which
we have said he had drawn up with
much care during the day. and which
he had slid into the drawer when Mira
Harker first appeared in this story.
The paper had disappeared!
"Haw he exclaimed. >springing from
drawer to drawer In vain search THE
will I intended to forge-drawn up In
my own handwriting. to be copied into
Henry Elgin's. has been stolen! She
took it-that girl Catharine! She has.
of course, secreted It with the genuine
will! A proof Of my guilt, II 1t shall
be discovered! Why did she take iti
oh! q woman's eyes are as quick rs
lIght-she noticed the heading-saw
twas the body Of a will, and thinking
Of wills, carried 1t OF! I'll have the
secret of the hidlng.place or her life
her life!w
He stamped with rage. and was fun.
Ing like a fury when Nancy Harker
entered without ceremony.
whats the matter Yow?" cried she.
you are going mad or drunk. Luke"
Mad! Drunk! / must have been
both this day to leave doors and draw.
ers open, and I not here" thundered
Hammond.
"You are getting too fond Of brandy,
Luke" said Mrs. Harker, as her glance
fell upon the decanter.
Mind your business, Nancy Harker"
he cried. tossing a handful Of papers
upon the table. and rummaging among
them. mot only has Catharine Elgin
secreted the genuine will, but also one
drawn up by me-. and which / meant
to forge"
mind my own business. Luke Ham.
mond!' sneered Nancy Harker, looking
at him, as he fumed and fretted. III
I did. what would become Of you since
you have taken to that?"
She tapped the decanter with her lean
foreinger.
You take courage and strength from
that. and 1t will hang you yet. Luke"
"Hang me" repeated Hammond. re-
coIling from the prophecy.
II mean II. Luke. Things are getting
into q snarl. and you'll work q rope.
knot under your left ear. II you don't
look sharp"
Hammond grew pale. and stared at
her In silence.
Nancy Harker nodded her head. as II
1t were set on springs Of wire.
IF I do" said Hammond, sitting
down and pushing back his grizzly
hair; "if ! do. I'll have your company,
Nancy Harker. But we must not quar-.
rel; we are brother and sister. you
know"
Hush" whispered Nancy. and shak-
ing her finger at him. III you let that
secret OFT what becomes Of you and
yo,. Do,,eS 7 xoll vou rou arink fno
much. Luke. No n can suspect that
I am your sister unless you, like q fool,
set the suspicion afoot. The first thing
to be done now Is to find the lost will"
Right" said Hammond. do you
think she concealed 1t In this room?"
NO" said Nancy, shaking her head.
II think she has secreted 1t in her room
In the front"
But l had the will in my hand the
instant before I went to the crimson
chamber" said Hammond. land she
was there herself not five minutes after
my arrival there"
"She had time to come here. to find
the package. to run back to her room,
hide 1t. and then follow you." said
Nancy.
I'VE must search instantly" said
Hammond, springing to his feet.
He lighted two lamps, gave one to his
sister. for such Nancy Harker was,
and with the other led the way to
Kate's late room.
In going thither 1t was necessary to
ascend a short flight Of stairs, and as
Hammond placed his hand on the
newelpost of the banisters at the foot
Of the flight the carved top-piece Of
the post slipped of In his grasp and
caused him to stumble and bruise his
face.
"Confound that post" said he. re-
gaining his feet and elapping the top
hack upon It 1T has played me that
trick twice. Go into that closet there
and bring me q hammer and a couple
of large nails"
Nancy Harker did 30. and Hammond
drove the long. strong nails into the
cap Of the newel-post, which was large
and hollow. fastening it down hard and
fast.
THAT will hold till doomsday." said
he. rs he finished the work and ascend
ed the stairs. followed by Nancy.
The evil pair entered Hates room
and searched 1t from floor to ceiling.
leaving nothing undone that might give
them success.
1T - not here" said Hammond. after
more than IN hours hard labor.
Then she has hidden 1t In the hall Of
.ho aeotorn wing eaid Nancy M fhay