The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-04
CHAPTER III.
Continued

heart to carry my schemes 10 q success.
ful end And I Will succeed or perish"
A tapping at the door again.
Hammond opened . drawer Of hts
desk. took from It Q revolver. exam
med It closely, then laid It upon the
table and threw a newspaper over II.
IF an enemy-and I have many very
daring ones In this world" he NUT
tered. 81 shall not be taken OF my
guard. Come in!' he continued sharply.
Daniel opened the door. and the
stranger entered with q stride that
swung him fully . yard into the L.
brary.
Hammond gave one keen glance ut
the stranger. and then said to Daniel:
go ~ I directed"
Daniel departed. and Hammond
turned to the stranger. whose cloak
and hat still mufled his visage.
"Ycu seem to fear recognition" said
Hammond. quietly dropping into a
chair. 90 that the table was between
him and the stranger. but with his
right hand resting upon the hidden
Rlstol
do you think I fear It FROM"
sSpeak that name. and you die. John
1Garksr' exclaimed Hammond, snatch
ing forth the pistol ike lightning. and
dwelling Il full In the strangers face.
as the latter spoke and let fan his
CLOAK.
John Marks dark ana weather.
bronsed face grew q shade paler N
Hammond spoke. but he said:
"Ftrei and lose O friend to gain q
Aangman, Luke Hammond. since you
love the name; and by Jove. you seem
% have thrived under IT.
what foul breeze has blown John
Marks to New York; said Hammond.
"a rowing breeze. that puts his peck
cts like blown-up biadders, and oils
them with emptiness, Luke" said
John Marks. showing two rows Of
splendid teeth. II want money, old
eomrade. Put that three-decker OF a
Distol aside. It makes my flesh creep
10 have It pointed this way"
money 10 very valuable" uaid Ham
mond. what have You to give In u
change for 1T"
"A warning. Luke" said Marks.
"a warning!m
I'm sell It Ito you for I've hundred
dollars. no less" said Marks.
II pledge my word to pay It II the
-a~nfnS 4. urnvkh m vnVnh
agreed; for II you don't pay I can
make more elsewhere. But I came to
you 1rst, since you and I have worked
together in days gone BY" said Marks.
"Out with the warning; my time Is
valuable" cried Hammond.
The little bell was shaking terribly.
Something was going wrong In the
crimson chamber.
"You had q wife once. you know.
Luke"
"Yes-sbe died; 60 on-' said Ham.
nond. visibly agitated.
II know. friend Luke" continued
Marks. with a grin. that you have had
two wives. Your second wife died
all right; women must die rs well as
men. you know. Yes. the mother Of
your son Charles died-dRd as Mrs.
Luke Hammond. But your first wife.
you know-she didn't die"
what! You rave" said Hammond.
you may say she died. Luke. You
have a good reason to say So" said
Marks. But your first wife's sister
you remember her? Well. she says
your first wife was murdered"
Hammond grew deathly pale. and his
eyes glared ut Marks.
Murdered! whispered Hammond.
that's the word. Luke; and she says
you are the murderer"
"she says! Where is she. John
1aarksT'
I'm New York. And Luke. she Is q
terrible woman-derce as q tiger. cun-
ming as q fox, patient rs q spider. She
thinks you are In America. somewhere.
and she has sworn to have your life!~
docs she suspect that Luke Ham.
mond Ii her dead sisters husbandy''
gasped Hammond, q very picture Of
terror.
"Not jet. She has heard Of Luke
Hammond, however" said Marks:
'and Harriet Foss Is like q blood.
hound on the scent. Once ON your
trail. and before you dream of danger
she will have her knife in your throat"
True" said Hammond. And now.
Marks. II you will prove to me within
three days that Harriet Foss Is dead.
these five hundred dollars I now give
you shall be made five thousand"
"Speak plaiRly. Luke Hammond"
said Marks.
what need. when you already un.
derstand ny meaning" said Hammond.
Marks grew whittier than he did when
the pistol was at his face. and for q
moment seemed ready to fly.
Luke" said he. ut length. II am
no saint. you know. and there are red
spots on this hand Of mine."-he
stretched forth the lean. sinewy hand:
s'but there are no stains Of woman's
blood on II. I will moi raise my hand
against Harriet Foss. but I will place
her In your power"
-Ycu are splitting hairs. rs the say.
Ing Is" said Hammond. "You have
grown squeamish as your hair has
frosted. But I reject your proposition.
for I have enough Of those stains upon
my hand already. I do not wish TO see
her"
We'll. I will engage to send her on
q Wild goose chase to South America.