Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-12-24
ed himself near the ped and waited tor
the coming of Hammond.
CHAPTER NXVlII.
TILE LAST WARNING.

THE LAST WARNING.
While James Greene was forcing his
way to the room Luke Hammond slept,
slept in his library chair and slept
we'll until Stephen awoke him at y
o'clock at night.
"Ha! l have slept six hours sail
Hammond. after lighting the gas and
glancing at the clock. ut was nearly
3 when closed my eyes. l feel amaz-
ingly refreshed. Now, Stephen, did
YOU see Mr.. Thomas Allday this morn
ing?"
"Yes, sir" said Stephen. "He said
all right""
"Very WELL" said Hammond. Now
go lead him here. Come by the pri-
vate entrance. You will be gone an
hour. Go"
Stephen departed, and Hammond
summoned Nancy Harker.
Nancy" said he, when she appeared.
"I have had a fine sleep
"I am glad to hear it," said she.
did you dream Of our fathers face
| did, for have slept, also
mo: not a dream Of that kind said
Hammond. But had a dream which
was merely the result of what | was
thinking of when fell asleep"
"And what was that?'
81 was thinking how strange it was
that Catharine Elgin could have found
so secret hiding place for that will in
the little time she had to seek for it.
Now l have come to the conclusion
that she hit upon some place by acci.
dent. The fact is. | am unwilling to
remove Henry Elgin while that will
exists to ruin me-
"We know the will is in the house,
said Nancy BURN the house, and so
destroy the will The value of this
house is not much. 1t is old and can
be spared"
Right. But while it burns hundreds
Of tiremen will be running all over 1t.
They might discover the will in dash
ing down the walls and tearing off the
! framework. No. | must hunt once
more before proceeding to eXtrcmities.
In thinking Of all the probable, possi
/ bic and impossible places in which
Catharinc Elgin may have hidden the
will fell asleep thinking of that place
and dreamed the will was there"
o.. And. d.Whcre. was that" asked Nancy.
81 will show you. Give me that
hatchet and bring lamp" said Ham
mond.
They left the library. and Hammond
halted at the newel-post at the foot of
! the stairs which led to the room where
his mothers body was lying.
Nancy Harker," said he. do You
recollect how | fell here the night we
sought for the will? This cap of the
banister-post slipped off in my hand
and made me fall. l was angry, for
the fail hurt my face. | fastened the
carved top-piece on the post, saying it
would hold until doomsday. Let E
suppose doomsday has come and take
it off"
Nancy Harker looked on while he
struck off the cap of the post. AS it
fell he plunged his hand into the deep
! hollow. and shouted with JOY as he
drew forth the missing will and his
own forged copy.
Now, then, by my life, | have the
matter in my own hands, cried he, as
they returned to his library, James
Greene is dead-I can easily erase his
name wherever it appears in the will
and insert Catharine ElGin's-keep my
marriage secret until all the estate
shall have been converted into gold-I
see Henry Elgin has appointed me her
guardian in this will. and with it | can
defy those country relatives of his who
are eternally checking me when | try
to sell any of the property"
"If you are appointed guardian of the
estate" said Nancy, why marry her
at all? The world will hoot at such
marriage-the law will break it-for
you dare not tell the world that you
are not Catharine Elgin's uncle"
''If ] had had this few months soon.
er." said Hammond, land been clothed
| with the powers it gives me, | would
| have finished Henry Elgin, gained pos
session of the entire estate, and then,
in case | had failed to make Catharine
my daughter-n-law, would have fied
with the estate turned to gold. But
now | love Catharine Elgin--shc shall
| he my wife. Even if must die in the
| attempt, ! will 80 on. When Cathar-
! Inc Elgin is my wife she will do just
what / tell her to do. But until then
she will defy me-"
Have you no fear Of a woman's re-
venge?' asked Nancy.
There never lived but one woman |
feared" said Hammond. And your
confounded nonsense and dreaming
| for you know | never dreamed of the
warning from the grave until you
ve1ed me with your absurd stories
! your nonsense made me fear her.
mean Harriet Foss. If John Marks
has lied, she is dead and as for my
fearing Catharlne Elgn's revenge af.
ter she is my wfe-bah! The power
of husband, such husband as I
shall be, and have been, is fate to the
wife, Nancy Harker."
"And if John Marks has lied?" asked
Nancy.
"He dies He knows too much" said
Hammond But how can he lie when
he has promised to show me her body?
You are pale. What ais you"
Il don't know. | wish this was all
| oypr I wish John Marks had NOT on-
peared in New York" said Nancy.
wish What good will that do
you:' cried Hammond. fiercely. "We
began under circumstances of little
| lnnrer hut 1nnper has incrnasel