Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-08-06
NONT FREDERICK COUNTY, THURSDAY, AUGUST g. 1903


sneers, and continued:
"The drug I gnve you worked slow.
II. You were Ill, but never dreamed OF
lying. You were sittitig IN this room.
little more than year ago, amusing
yourself with your paints and pictures,
when d G6iivulsion seized you"
II remember it rs n 1t happened
Yesterday" said Elgin. This Crimson
chamber was my favorite retreat.
remember no more until regained my
senses IN the white and gold cham.
ber"
"You exclaimed" said Hammond,
las you fell: 'Luke-the will have
done justice-you-scek 1t in and
said no more. Your words terrified me.
[ had poisotied you for naught If you
had left a will. For three days you
.ay like one dead. I knew You were
aot dead, and by my authority. as your
nearest relation in New York, save
your child, denied all approach to yo'H
apartment, excepting to one or two
servants, WHO thought you dend. Your
daughter, ON hearing Of your sudden
leath, swooned with the shock. and for
two days and more l feared her grief
wotild end her life.'
"Po6r, darling Kate-my unfortunate
,hildr' sobbed Elgin.
The cruel villain drew forth his
handkerchief and wiped away the In.
valid's tears, for they seemed to run
from Henry Elgin's eyes to Luke Ham
mond's heart and then to turn to red
hot Goals Of fire.
"Go on, monstrous fend" said Elgin,
indignant and writhing under the
touch.
Hammond returned his handkerchief
to his pocket. and continued:
"Your doctor-the family DOCTOR
was not summoned. I summoned
,hysiciari--a man Of high medical repu.
tation, but mitch addicted to wine,
Before he saw you piled him with
rink. He was intoxicated when ho
examined you. His certificate Of death
pronounced your end by spasm of the
hcart."
"Villain! You told me my child had
given out the report that l was mad
hat I was necessarily confined as a
dangerous lunatlc in my own house
hat she would consent to my freedom
when should have secured the prop
erty to her. And Igreat God, pardon
NE for the. injustice, ! thought
feared that If I did, she, instlgated by
you. Luke Hammond, might-No! l
never thought Catharne Elgln would
consent to her fathers death. Only IN
half dclirium did l believe she knew
Of my situation
Hammond arose and paced the room
10 and fro to calm himself, for the
sight of Elgin's anguish, though not Il
new Thing to him, was narrowing even
to his hardened heart,
He soon resumed his scat, and pur.
sued:
well, you were coflncd. and IN your
coffin were seen by every servant IN
he house, by your daughter-she hur'
vlcd away, unable to bear the grin or
agony fixed upon your features
"Wrctchw cried Elgin. You take
fcndish delight In dwelling upon
her grief
MANY of your friends saw you
through the glass lid Of your CONN.
continued Hammond. Il stood near, as
The throng of sorrowing friends passed
around 1t one by one, ana l confess
that trembled lest the drugs l al
mnistcred might revive you too soon'
or fail altogether. If you had revived
your first act would have been to de-
clare the existence of will, for which
[ had searched in vain. Had you died
| feared the will might be found by
other hands and eyes than mine. FL
ually, the room In which you lay was
cleared, that | and my assistants, Dan
lei and Stephen, might prepare th'
| coffin for removal to the tomb. Then
YOU were lifted from the coffin apf
swiftly and secretly removed TO the
white /and gold apartment. prepared
for Your reception. The coffin was
| filled with sac.;s of sand, and en-
tombcd in your family vault In Green
| wood Cemetery. l assure you, YOU
funeral procession was very large ant
uunerously attended,
| "Horriblc villain.' exclaimed Elg1.
Hammond nodded sneeringly. ant
went on:
unfortunately for my plans, yo'
! recovered your consciousness and hear
ng before suspected 1t. and overheard
| me telling Mrs. uarker. whom l hat
| Just introduced into the house, Il
! search everything for the missing will
and bring it to me that l might de
stroy it,"
II remember" said Elgln. and YOU
| words put me OH my guard, confused
as l was; and when l opened N.
| eyes, your first words werc:,"You spok
Of a will. Elgin; tell us where we ma.
lind 1t. for you arc dying called yo'
! traitor, and thcnccforward you hav
known that l knew too much for tn
success of your villainy. Have yo1
| forged will yet:"
NO" said Hammond. "All m,
search after your will was in vain
dared not forge zone while that. re
manned hidden mine beneath me
! that might explode: at any instant.
was ignorant of the d1te of your will
l feared you might have executed it OF
the very day you we're thought to die
| Three of your servants-I have dis
charged them long 'ago-told me yo,
had called them into your studio-thi
npagtment-thatv very day, and signin;
your name to a document which yol
affirmed to be your will, caused then
TO aflix their names as witnesses.
..lnrnd not fnro.o a ,1,ill y