The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-13
By Prof. VIM. Henry Peck,


woman led the young and handsome
man into an old store-room-dark, chill
ly place-my flesh creeps to think Of it.
And the old woman knew there was a
man, desperate man, watching her
to shoot her if she paused. Then the
old woman left him in the store-room,
left the young man-left him stand
ing on a trap-door, right over a deep,
dark pit. Augh! so deep and dark"
She shuddered, and Kate Elgin's face
grew terrible in it's ghastly attention.
Kate's eyes were fixed upon Fans liVid
face, but her body was slowly lean
ing more and more towards Hammond,
who expected to see her swoon and
fall every instant.
Fan continued:
1.-THE old woman left the young man
there and fed. Suddenly it grew as
light as day, and looking back, the
old woman saw the desperate man she
knew had followed in the dark. He
had a pistol in one hand, rope in the
other. He said something-the old
woman did not know-she was all fear
he pulled the rope, the trap-door fell,
the young man vanished-he is in the
we'll now!'
"His name-his name" gasped Kate,
her eyes wide open, her lips all white.
"Was James Greenew said Ham
mond, opening his arms to receive her
if she sl:ould' swoon.
| Like q tigress from her lair, like An
arrow from a bow.string, Kate Elgin
darted in between Hammond's arms,
and shrieking:
"Die, assassin! die, Satan! if death is
in your and plunged the sereted
knife twice into his breast with all her
strength.
Hammond staggered back, clear to
then wall, and his own dagger was in
his hand in an instant.
Kate Elgin glanced at the knife in
her hand. The miserable blade, mere
table-knife, blunt and weak, was bent
as If Of lead, and save Hammond's
sudden fright and surprise, he was un.
hurt.
40, Hesvenw groaned Kate, dGshing
the useless, faithless knife away, "does
thy justice, thy mercy sleep! Oh,
James! James, my lover, my darling!
James! dead! murdered"
She clasped her hands in agony, and
fell lifeless into Nancy Harker's arms.
"Place her on the bed" said Luke
"She has fainted-nothing more. Fan,
there's a gold dollar for your story
You told it well. Nancy, when she
shall have recovered, use your influence
to bend her to my will. We have no
time to lose. Ny purpose accom-
plished, We will fly to South America.
This news of.James Greene will weak
en- her greatly. She would not have
believed it true if ] had told it; but
as old Fan related t, Kate Elgin can
not doubt. If you want anything, let
Fan get it. I am going to the crimson
chamber"
He departed, exulting in his villainy.
and old Fan muttered, as she secured
the coin he had tossed:
"a brave man! A dreadful man!
My son must have grown up just like
him! Luke Hammond and Nancy
Harker! Two gay imps-gay imps-
they ought to be brother and sister.
yes, and begun by robbing their par
ents. But I feel Detter-better now
after that easing of my mind"
Unfortunate Kate recovered soon,
and found some sad relief in tor
rent of tears, a tempest Of sobs,
whirlwind Of woe.
And then, weeping. she fell asleep,
with Nancy Harker glaring hate and
triumph by the bedside.
Old Fan, not wanted there, crept
away to hide her yellow birdie" and
silence reigned in the white and gold
chamber at midnight.