The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-03

wing heard the sound OF crashlng smut
ters, and bounded toward the spot
with lantern advanced in one band and
his bludgeon in the other.
"Ruffian. would you strike Wom-
an?" cried Kate.
"Ayep' he roared, leaping forward
and sweeping around his club. But MS
foot slipped as he sprung and he tell
headlong at Kate's feet.
Grasping club and lantern he was
about to rise, and bitter curse was on
his lips when Kate cried out: May
God forgive mew and struck him full
upon his bare head with the blunt of
the hatchet, letting fall the weapon as
she struck. He groaned, fell forward
upon his face and lay fearfully still.
Kate stared at him for a moment as
if appalled, at her act, and then snatch
ing up the lantern fed 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 ira
versed 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 shatter the bolt she heard a crash
and yell in the eastern wing.
Luke had broken his way out of the
ante-room by furious springs against
the door! Kate's despairing eye fell
upon the strong, heavy steel poker
near the crate. She seized it and
showered rapid blows upon the lock.
1t bent, it yielded, the door flew open
wide, and Kate darted 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 tripped on loose stair
rod and she fell headlong to the bot
tom, sorely bruised and half stunned.
AS she struggled to rise the sinewy
arms Of Luke encircled her shrinking
limbs!
Caught again. he laughed, as he
tore off his cravat and bound her
wrists.
Kate rose to her feet, half dead with
fear and exhaustion, but made no fur
ther effort to escape.
"Ha! What device will you next at
tempt?" said Hammond, as he picked
up the lantern lying near her and led
her to his library.
"Whatever God shall give me wit and
strength to do, monster" was her un.
daunted reply.
"You are cunning - very cunning"
said Luke. retaining bis grasp upon
her with one hand and searching in a
drawer with the other.
II am sorry to do it, Catharine FL
gin," said he. as he produced pair Of
handouts, "but my safety demands
that you shall wear a pair of iron
bracelets for few hours"
Kate made no struggle as he slipped
the handouts over her tender wrists
and snapped them fast with tiny key.
AS this degradation was completed
Daniel made his appearance with a
bloody crown and an inflamed visage.
Good" said he, as he saw the hand
cuffs. THAT should have been done
yesterday. She is as tricky as a colt.
Luck was with me, for if it had been
the edge, and not the blunt of the
hatchet that struck me I'm blowed If
there hadn't been a murder"
ut is lot murder to kill brutes who
assail u.s." said Kate.
Small difference to me what name
you'd a-given it, Miss" said Daniel,
grinning. II wouldn't have struck ye
Il only meant to scare ye, Miss"
"No matter" said Hammond. Dan
iel, 60 place Elgin on his bed, and roll
it back into the crimson chamber.
When 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 father"
said Kate, sobbing 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
the 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.
1T is gonew said Fan, but I know
I saw it" and at that instant Ham,
mcnd led Kate Elgin to her chair.
ayes, Fam" began Kate, for she had
overheard every word that had passed
between Hammond and Nancy while
she feigned delirium.
But as Kate began to speak the
watchful Hammond sprang upon Fan,
and seizing her by the shoulders
swung her headlong forth into the
| hall.
Away! to you bed, old hag" said
he. But for you this troLble had not
! happened"
Fan gathered herself slowly and tot
| tered away, while Luke returned to
Kate.
Monster" said Kate. "She is your
motherw
Il deny it! All my life 1 will Geny
] it," said Luke.
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