The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-04

I been q mere mass Of living matter
six months!"
He Is now in full possession OF his
reason" said Hammond. without reply.
ing TO the invalid's question. Had you
much trouble In moving him here. Mrs.
HarkerT
The glare Of rage had faded from
the attenuated face Of the invalid, and
though he still grasped his Ratchet
firmly. his whole being seemed cen.
tered in the conversation going Oh
cround him.
Mrs. Harker replied ia Hammond.
mo. He made no resistance when I
began to roll his bed from the white
and gold chamber. He seemed half
asleep. But soon after l had placed
him In this room he opened his eyes
wide. began to fash them around him.
half arose In his bed-a thing you know
be has not done these six months"
"Six months!" echoed the invalid, as
his attentive al followed the colloquy.
"Slx months! Then / have been tor.
tured a year; for during the first six
months I was conscious Of your VII.
lainy, Luke Hammond"
go on, Mrs. Harker." said Ham.
mond. whose eyes seemed to shun the
invalid'a.
II forced him down upon the Pill.
resumed Mrs. Harker. He lay
quiet for q while, and then again tried
TO get up. After q hard tussle I tired
him ont. and he sank back exhausted.
Then I rang the library bell"
ITO do that" interrupted Hammond.
"you had to leave him and run to the
white and gold chamber"
"Of course. We've Nd bell nor speak.
ing tube in this ROOM" said Mrs.
Harker. when I came back to bind
him. as you ordered, he was on the
door. staring about as II be recognized
the room. I had q dreadful time In
getting him into bed a~gain-he fought
like q tiger"
"And you like q t~igress-as You are'
said the invalid. Il remember now-I
had begun to regain my reason"
"Then I ran to the bell and tube
pursued Mrs. Harker. "You
sent Daniel to help me. When Daniel
came we tried to bind him; but he
so hard that unless we stunned
Wa conldr'f-"
Did you stun him?' asked Ham.
mond. q shrdder creeping over his
frame.
Not looked too cruel to knock q
sick man on the head" said Mrs.
Harker.
you lie. tigress hagw exclaimed
the invalid. "You ran and got thin
very Ratchet, and raised It to smite me
dead or senseless. You did strike me
once, and that instant I think my
power Of speech began to return. That
there. Daniel. cried out for no vio-
lence; and In bis trying to wrest the
Ratchet from you. It fell upon the bed.
and I clutched It."
rs this true, Dahiel?' asked Ham.
mond.
True. sir" said Daniel. II believe
Mrs. Barker would have killed him.
not on purpose"
He struck me. Luke Hammond"
cried Mrs. Harker. pointing to her
visage. n only meant to stun
him q bit"
Had you slain him. Nancy Harker."
said Hammond. with sudden ~ierceness.
by my blood. I would have slain you"
mot because Of any humanity In
your heart" sneered Nancy Harker:
but because the blow that slew him
would have slain the goose that lays
your golden eggs"
"Your very instruments desplse you.
Luke Hammond" said the Invalid.
Learn to govern both temper and
Nancy Harker," said Ham.
nond. over whom this %ferocious and
evil woman seemed to hold some pow.
.rful restraint.
Nancy sneered q recognition OF the
and went on with her story:
"When he got the Ratchet he sprang
from the bed and ran for the door
here. Daniel and / threw chairs In
he way and he fell. Then he kept
is of with the Ratchet. and ran to that
corner. where he Is now. I run to the
bell then-and that's all"
"Murderers:" cried the invalid
when will this tyranny cease"
"DanIel." said Hammond. placing his
amp upon the table. do you, from
hat side. advance on him with tho
chair. Nancy Harke-. with that chair
push on him from the other side. !
With this will attack him in front. Wu
must pin him in his ~corner-keep an
to Ills hatchet. Now-all ut once.
Stay! I thought l heard a step In the
hall"
RATS. rats. This part Of the house
;warms with the ,.rmIn." said Nancy
Harker. impatient to begin the assault
To be continued.
Terrifying Pies.
"a A.. Ian.S -,,o;nS ,nl infoyocfin0