The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-18
CHAPTER vi.
LUXE HAAn6oND's vlLLAINY.

CHAPTER vi.
LUXE H~AAAoNp's vILLA1NY.
Upon entering the crimson chamber.
Hammond found MI. Elgin bound as
he had left him, but conscious Of where
he was and Of what had lately trans
PRED.
Daniel had Just ceased to battle the
invalid's sunken temples, and retired
aloof as Hammond. placed q chair.
facing Elgin. and sat down.
The eyes Of the Invalid and his ty.
rant met in n long. searching gaze;
but Hammond, despite his hardihood.
was the first to turn his face away.
There was q dignity Of unspoken
reproach and scorn in Elgiu's dark
and still brilliant eyes that made Ham,
mond dwindle . q meagre meanness.
even In his own callous mind.
You have some shame still left In
chat miserable soul Of yours" remarked
Elgin. II have lived nearly fifty years.
Luke Hammond. but, by the heaven
+above Us, you are the most contempt.
able knave unhanged."
Thank you. Elgin," said Hammond.
IN q cold. unnoved voice. "You are
right 60 use your tongue, since 1t must
need exercise after SO long a repose."
"Incredible" calculated Elgin. This
monster sneer at the misery he has
caused! To what extreme Of base
barbarity will your cruelty reach"
ITO an extreme. Henry Elgin. that
shall compass my purposes" replied
Hammond. with q face grown stern
and hard In IN instant.
when I swear to you. Luke Ham,
mond." said Elgln, In q tone as inflex-
ible as that Of his tyrant that after q
year Of your torture and villainous
treatment. you are as far from gaining
your purpose as ever. cali You still re-
tain a hope Of moving me TO- become
an instrument Of your avarice. crime
and infamy? No! Let my flesh rot
from my bones. my bones molder to
dust before your evil eyes, II You will.
but never hope to accomplish your
purpose"
bah! Words and wind. Henry e.
xin," sad Hammond. II shall tame
you yet. There are other levers than
imprisonment that I may use to move
you"
"You are capable Of ~torturins me
savage that you are" exclaimed e.
gin.
at would be useless to torture the
body Of q man like you, Elgin." said
Hammond. opening q pen-knife and
pairing his long. claw-ltke nails. Dan
lei. you must be tired. 1t IL after
twelve o'clock. Send Stephen here.
and do you 60 to bed. See that the
doors and windows are NIL secure. and
eurn the dogs loose in the front and
rear"
Daniel nodded. and departed In ST.
lence. Luke Hammond then drew his
chair nearer to the invalid. and con-
rinued:
ITO torture your body. Henry Elgin.
would only harden your mind. for you
are az obstinate as any martyr ever
burned at the stake. But now that
sou have your reason again, ! think l
may move you by torturing your SOUL"
"Yillain." said Elgin. ito hear you.
one would think you had not already
tortured both my soul and body! Have
you not wasted my body by your drugs
and this Incarceration? Is II no torture
90 keep Q a sick. weak. half.starved?
L. II NO torture to rack q man's body
and mind with insults. bonds and
blows, until his easop reels, falls and
lies dead. for six long months? Gu,
upon you. and may Gods wrath hurl
you to perdition"
You have a daughter. Henry Elgin-"
IL have-heaven bless her" ex'
claimed the invalid. fervently. "And
my heart beats as In the good. happy
days Of health. since my eyes have
seen her-since. by her agitation on
seeing me. I know she had no share In
my misery. Wretched man! you had
almost made me believe that Catharine
Eigin countenanced this brutality to
secure the estate! Dog! I know now
you led"
Hammond grew pale with rage and
shame as Elgin went on.
For six months after I found myself
In the white and gold chamber. you
told me my daughter. having learned
how I had disposed OF the estate. con
scented to my imprisonment until ]
should secure the property to you and