Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-22

| OutStretched arms swept along tne
| walls. She stumbled over something,
stopped and picked 1t up. 1t was the
same hatchet her father had lately
held-cast aside the night before by
! Hammond. Its possession nerved her
arm TO strike, and finding a window
She dashed out the glass, shattered the
SASH and was cutting through the
shutters when she heard the wrathful
shout of Daniel and the clamor of the
savage dogs.
"Ob, cruel fate; What shall do"
.he cried in wocful despair, but hacA
ing away for dear life at the stubborn
! wood.
Daniel, returning to the eastern
wing heard the sound Of crashing shut.
tcrs and bounded toward the spot.
| with lantern advanced in one hand and
his bludgcon in the other.
"Rulfian! would you strike WON.
! an:' cried Kate.
Aye" he roared, lcaping forward
ana sweeping around his club, But his
foot slipped rs he sprung and he fell
hcadlong ut kate's feet.
Graspng club and lantern he was
about to rise, and bitter curse was on
| his lips when Kate cried out: May
God forgive mel" and struck him full
upon his bare head with the blunt Of
thc hatchet, letting fall the weapon as
! She struck. He Sroancd, fell forward
upon his face and lay fcarfully still.
Kate stared at him for moment as
| if appalled, at her act, and then snatch
/ irg up the lantern fled along the hall,
| hoping to find some entrance into the
| main house, and thence to effect an eS-
cape or alarm. But all the doors were
barred and nailed up. Again she tra-
vcrsod the deserted halls and found
| herself in Hammond's library. Here
| the door leading into the main house
WAS locked and the key gone While
she searched for something with which
to <hatter the bolt she heard n crash
and yell in the eastern wing.
! Luke had broken his way out of the
ante-room by furious springs against
the door. Rates desparing eye fell
uron the strong, heavy steel poker
near the crate. She seized it and
| Showercd rapid blows upon the lock.
1t bent, it yielded, the door few open
wide, and Kate dartcd away just as
Luke sprang through the closet pas
sage into the library.
"Stop" he yelled. But Kate fed on,
and was descending the main staircase
when her foot trippcd on a loose stair
rod and she fell head!ong to the bot
tum. soYrly bruised and half stunned.
rs she struggled to rise the sinewy
arms Of Luke encircled her shrinking
limbs!
Caught again" he laughed. as he
torl off his cravat and bound her
wrists.
Kate rose to her feet, half dead with
fear ana exhaustion, but made no fur
ther effort to escape.
"IIa. What device will you next at
tempt:' said Hammond, as lie picked
up the lantern lying near her and led
her to his library.
"Whatcver God shall give me wit and
strength to do, monster" was her un.
aaunted reply.
you are cunning very cunning
said Luke, retaining his grasp upon
her with one hand and searching in n
drawer with the other.
Il am sorry to do it. Catharine FL
GIN" said he, as he produced pair of
handouts, 'but my safety demands
that you shall wear Il pair of iron
| bracelets for few hours"
| Kate made no struggle as he slipped
the handouts over her tender wrists
AID snapped them fast " 18th Il tiny key.
AS this degradation was completed
Daniel made his appearance with n
bloody crown and an intiamcd vlsage.
Good" said he, as he saw the hand
cuffs. THAT should have been done
yesterday. She is as tricky as Il colt
Luck was with me, for if it had been
the edge and not the blunt, of the
Ratchet that struck me I'm blowcd If
| there haun't been murder
at is not murder to kill brutes who
| assam US, SAD hate.
"Small difference to me what mana
you'd a-given it, Miss" said Daniel
grinnng. Il wouldn't have struck ye
i only meant to scare ye, Miss"
| mo matter" said Hammond. Dan
i2l, go place Elgin on his bed, and roll
it back into the crimson chamber.
When l crashed my way out found
him lying senseless in the hall. He
had tainted"
Daniel hurried on his errand, and
Hammond led poor Kate back to her
prison. where she found Daniel rolling
away the bed. my poor, dear fatherw
said Kate, sobbng for the first time.
Henry Elgin opened his eyes at the
sound of her voice and as he saw her
he said:
Take heart, my child. God is just
and the right will prevail"
Away with him" said Hammond,
and then led Kate to her chair.
Nancy had in the meantime erased
he name she had written on the floor,
! pulling old Fan aside to do it, and
| when Fan came to her senses though,
her first glance was toward the spot
no trace of the name remained.
ut is gone" said Fan, "but know
l saw itp and at that instant Ham
mcnd led Kate Elgin to her chair.