Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-07-30

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CHAPTER Y.
KATE ELGIN PRISONER.
Luke Hammond rushed into his IL
brary with his hair on end. and plunged
his hands into the drawer IN which
the valuable document he sought had
| been placed.
It was not there!
Great beads Of sweat rolled from
his pale face; bis lips, purplish white
| and Quivering, muttered incoherehtiv
In vain he drew out the drawer ano
| emptied the contents upon the table
| and scattered the papers about. Inc
pa ckage he sought was not there.
..It Is gone. he finally exclaimed
! shovcling the disordered mass OF let
ters into the drawer with trembling
| hands. "she has it! She intlmated her
! suspicious of me this night. Coming IN
here, finding the drawer open, she. rs
unv woman would. especially one
whose interest prompted her. exam
,ned- my papers and found the. Will
But she may not have concealed it
| she could not have been certain wha'
| it was-I had enclosed 1t In blank
| paper. l must hasten to her and paVe
her searched by Nancy Hnrker,'
He then locked the library door,
, locked his desk. and entered the closet
| which concealed the secret door. Com
ing back Immediately, he fastened TO
the small closet he had opened once
before that night and filled goblet
half full of spirits.
Brandy! I thirst for 1t as once l
did for water" He swallowed 1t Mt 4
rulp. after water I used wine. Wine
grew inslpid-then I longed for brandy
| and now even that cannot quench This
gnawing craving for stimulants when
am excited"
He replaced the goblet, and entered
the hall Of the eastern wing; this time
he was careful to leave no open doors
behind him.
| He then hurried to the room to which
| Catharine ElSin had been carried by
| Nancy Harker. There he found the
| poor girl Just in possession OF her con-
| sc,ousness, and sitting in large arm
| chair.
"Catharne Elgin," said Hammond,
In n quick. harsh tone, totally unlike
| any in which he had ever addressed
her before. "it is useless now to at
tempt to deceive you. Your father
| lives"
my eyes have told me that. Mr.,
| Hammond" said Kate rising the In
stant he appeared. "My ears have
! heard his voice calling me by name
have been pressed to his living bosom
Traitorous william! why have you done
this evil thingT
THAT is my affair, Miss Elgin." said
Hammond, land Of that we shall speaE
! hereafter. At present my business ii
with YOU. You have been In my IL
! brary-'
your libraryr' exclaimed Kate
"IIave you the audacity, sir, to cal
anything in this house yours while
Henry Elgin lives"
Henry Elgin is dead to the world
dead to you" said Hammond. But,
as remarked. more of that hereafter
You have been in my library within
! the half hour. While there you stole
saw stole, Catharine Elgn, that yor
may know | am in earnest-you stolf
package enclosed in a blank envelope
but sealed with three seals. l demand
its instant restoration
Il have been in the library" salt
Kate. II did take package from al
open drawer. l know not why l for
got or rather trampled upon all scru
pies unless it was because the hand .
Providence moved me. The package
was before me. took it in my hand
and something whspered-Tcar off thu
envelope | had sought the library tt
tell you that your stories of ghosh
were nonsense, for heard the groan;
of my father even in my room. Littl,
DID think, Luke Hammond, he wa:
alive! | tore off the envelope, for
believed my father had left n will
and because l knew you kept youI
most important secrets in that drawer
read upon the package these words:
"'The last will and testament o.
Henry Elgin. 70 be delivered to james
Greene
Then, hearing noise in this par
of the house. and seeing closet oper
in which the library lamp showed ar
open door, determined to Investigate
the affair. l arrived In time to save
your life"
"Do you now bitterly regret having
arrived so soon, Miss Elgin?" sait
Hammond, with sneer.
NO." replied the noble girl; II df
not desire your death. You are TOT
wicked, and have too many fearful
sins on your soul. However much D.!
may loathe and despise you, sir,
should shudder to think that deatf
had claimed you unrepentent."
"Ah! you are very pious. very hu
name, Miss Elgln," sneered Ham
mOnd.
"Neither could l WISH" continued
Kate, that my dear fathers hant
should be stained with human blood
and that, the blood Of my mother,
brother"
~ am inclined to value your last